Category Archives: cancer

Original version published in July 2013. Wayne died Dec, 2, 2010. Watching a child die should slap us in the face, provide some perspective as to what’s really important and how we should live our lives. That’s what my little … Continue reading →

This is the fourth year I’ve volunteered at Paige’s Butterfly Run, a 5-kilometer run in Syracuse that benefits children (and their families) receiving care at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. The run is named for Paige Arnold, an 8-year-old who died of … Continue reading →

The more I think about this, the more pissed I get. Last week one of my sons went online to donate to cancer research, but somehow his credit card number had been stolen. Fortunately, Visa froze his card and it … Continue reading →

It takes thousands of volunteers and donors to raise almost $500,000 for pediatric cancer research at one event. It also takes one hell of a master of ceremonies to pull it off. Meet Charles “Chow” Downey. He presides over the annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation fundraiser … Continue reading →

I confess I’m a regular reader of the obit page. When I come across someone whose formal obituary uses a phrase like “kicked the bucket,” I have to read it. This happened today, and it provides another example of the … Continue reading →

It’s scary sometimes how the mind works. Mine, anyway. When Michelle came home from work the other night carrying cameras, backpacks and other tools of the photography trade, I greeted her at the door with, “Take a load off!” It’s not … Continue reading →

November showed up at the front door this morning, and I had to let it in. This year it brought more crap than usual. There’s the traditional baggage, of course — gray skies … more darkness … the furnace kicking on … Continue reading →

Frustrated by efforts to quell an increase in cigarette smoking by downtown workers, the city of Syracuse, NY, is considering a radical response. City officials have drafted an ordinance that would require all employees who work downtown to smoke outside during their breaks. … Continue reading →

It took three tries, but I finally came up with some words of sympathy for a family that lost a wife and mother to cancer at age 54. I hadn’t seen any of the family for a few years, as … Continue reading →

“Ms. Toots” would have smiled and blown kisses to everybody who came to honor her on her second birthday Wednesday. Arie Baugh lost her fight with kidney cancer in July, two months shy of turning 2 years old. Arie’s mom … Continue reading →